Asian Games: Bikini Cheerleaders Made Us Lose, Claims Volleyballer

(Nov. 23) -- A beach volleyball player participating at the Asian Games has blamed his team's loss on bikini-wearing cheerleaders.

Adeeb Mahfoudh, representing Yemen, said cheerleaders hired to entertain spectators during breaks in play had distracted him during his team's loss against Indonesia.

"They had an effect on how we played," Mahfoudh said, according to reports. "I think they had something to do with our losing the match."

Cheerleaders perform during beach volleyball at the 2010 Asian Games

Vincent Yu, AP

Cheerleaders perform during the Beach Volleyball competitions at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Local organizers of the 16th Asian Games, held this year in Guangzhou, China, hired four cheerleader squads, each made up of eight women wearing bikinis, to entertain spectators during the volleyball competition.

But while Mahfoudh was disappointed the cheerleaders had contributed to Yemen's exit from the tournament, he admitted their presence might bring new fans to his sport.

"These girls are very beautiful," he confessed. "With them here, more people will pay attention to beach volleyball. If I can, I hope to watch them perform at the next match."

The Chinese cheerleaders incorporated traditional elements, including martial arts and fan dancing, in their repertoire.

China's Tianfu Morning News reported that a Hong Kong official described the cheerleaders as "sexy."

The Yemeni volleyballer's comments buzzed around the Internet but also caused confusion for some news organizations.

Amid color photographs of the cheerleaders who were possibly responsible for Yemen's loss, Britain's Daily Mail newspaper incorrectly reported that Mahfoudh was female, potentially adding an extra layer of intrigue to the story.